Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2020
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2020
A five-time scoring champion in the Patrick brother’s Pacific Coast Hockey Association, Fred “Cyclone” Taylor also won a pair of Stanley Cup championships during his fabled career, with his large salary after signing with the Renfrew Millionaires in 1909 making him at that time the highest-paid athlete on a per-game basis in the world. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a highly desirable typed letter twice-signed by the legendary superstar. At 8” x 10” and on Department of Mines and Resources Canadian Government letterhead, the April 28, 1944 communication has the Cyclone mentioning sending a newsprint photo from his days with Ottawa in 1909, with the small image affixed to the letter appearing to be the photo in question. Taylor has added a pair of LARGE signatures, one with his famous “Cyclone” moniker. Elected to the HOF in 1947, Taylor would pass at the age of 94, in 1979.
Both signatures are absolutely flawless, with just the non-Cyclone example showing slight infringement from typed text. The small newsprint photo has been affixed by way of clear tape, with just fold lines and a pair of punched holes for binder insertion to note regarding the condition of the letter. There is also a notation over the reverse, with Hamlyn stating that he received this letter, on May 10, 1944.
The E. Robert Hamlyn Hockey HOFers Signed Photo and Letter Collection
Beginning life as the passion of one youth growing up in Newfounland during the late-1930s, E. R. Hamlyn was bitten by the collecting bug as a teenager, and began to seek out the signatures of both contemporary and past hockey stars, with his efforts culminating in the world class collection of signed photos and letters that encompass his incomparable autograph collection, with many unique items and extremely rare signatures making up the vast collection.
Through effective letter writing, first to teams, and then when information was received, directly to the players themselves, Hamlyn would request the addressed parties sign a photo he himself would provide, with the overwhelming majority honouring the enthusiastic collector’s wishes. And enamored with the uniforms of both the Montreal Maroons and New York Americans – despite never seeing these teams play in person, Hamlyn had the foresight to seek out the signatures of past retired stars from long forgotten and defunct franchises. The insightful collector also recorded information now invaluable to his collection, with most of the signed letters and photos having dates listed when they were received back signed.
Numerous early Hall of Fame legends make up the one-of-a-kind gathering including signed photos from Sylvio Mantha, George Hainsworth, King Clancy, Cecil "Babe" Dye, George "Buck" Boucher, Jack Ruttan, Barney Stanley, "Bullet" Joe Simpson and others, along with signed letters from Ernie "Moose" Johnson, Ernie Russell, George McNamara, Jack Marshall, Dickie Boon and others. Impossible to duplicate, this is unequivocally the greatest autograph collection that we have handled in our 25 years of service to the collecting community.
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